Jat Airways, Etihad make first partnership step

This is the first step in building a partnership between Etihad and Serbian national carrier Jat Airways, the CEOs of the two companies, James Hogan and Vladimir Ognjenović said on Monday.

Hogan and Ognjenović signed in Belgrade a commercial cooperation agreement involving 46 destinations and the introduction of codeshare (joint) flights, 21 to Etihad's destinations and 23 to Jat's destinations.

Hogan stated that Etihad will discuss possible forms of a strategic partnership with Jat Airways after it reviews the Serbian company's operational and financial data.

Ognjenović said that Jat Airways has long waited to sign a codeshare contract that will enable it to reinstate flights to the United States and to offer its passengers cheaper and better flights to destinations on all continents.